A shocking case of espionage has come to light with the arrest of Vishal Yadav, an employee posted at the Indian Navy Headquarters in New Delhi. He has been accused of leaking sensitive defence information to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), including crucial details during Operation Sindoor, India’s high-profile military operation following the Pahalgam terror attack.
Yadav, a clerk and resident of Haryana, was arrested by the Rajasthan Police’s CID Intelligence unit after months of surveillance. According to senior officer Vishnukant Gupta, Yadav was in constant contact with a female ISI handler, who posed as “Priya Sharma” on social media. She reportedly paid Yadav in exchange for confidential information related to naval and defence activities.
Forensic analysis of Yadav’s phone uncovered years of communications and data sharing, including during Operation Sindoor (May 7–10), when Indian forces targeted terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians.
Crypto Payments and Gaming Addiction
Investigators found that Yadav, reportedly addicted to online gaming, had suffered major financial losses. This vulnerability was allegedly exploited by Pakistani handlers. He received payments through cryptocurrency accounts and direct bank transfers, making the financial trail harder to trace.
Yadav is currently being interrogated at the Central Interrogation Centre in Jaipur, with multiple intelligence agencies involved. Officials are probing the depth of the information leak and investigating whether he acted alone or was part of a larger espionage ring.
Wider Crackdown After Pahalgam Attack
The arrest comes amid a broader nationwide crackdown on Pakistani espionage networks, which intensified after the Pahalgam terror attack. In recent weeks, several individuals across India have been detained for alleged links with ISI operatives, many of whom maintained contact through social media honey traps.
In Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, a state government employee named Shakur Khan was arrested for spying for Pakistan. In another major case, Haryana-based YouTuber and vlogger Jyoti Malhotra was taken into custody after being linked to a Pakistani officer posted at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi during Operation Sindoor.
The developments highlight a growing concern over digital espionage, where Indian nationals are being targeted through social media platforms and lured using money, romance, or ideological manipulation. Intelligence agencies have urged vigilance and are expected to roll out stricter counter-espionage protocols within defence and civil departments.
